You may be at the stage where you're clear about the career path you want to take and have already done your research. Or you may be overwhelmed by the amount of options out there. Don't worry. Everyone's transition is different so don't be concerned if you're still unsure. More details of stages and questions are contained in our online transition guide – Your Transition – 3 Steps to Success.

1. Your Transition
Three steps to success

2. Former officers tend to be the sort of
people who are comfortable with
uncertainty, and unafraid to decide
and move forward.
That is a priceless ‘skill’.
Frazer Budd - Project Manager,
Chicago Bridge and Iron

3. JOB SEEKER PRE CONSULTATION GUIDE 3
The Transition Process
There are three main steps to follow in transition:
Research > Refinement > Job Campaign
You may be at the stage where you're clear about the career path you want
to take and have already done your research. Or you may be overwhelmed
by the amount of options out there. Don't worry. Everyone's transition is
different so don't be concerned if you're still unsure.
Stage 1 - Research
Consider all aspects of your life holistically, not just your job
options. Take into account other factors that will influence
your decision, such as your family or social circumstances.
Ask yourself these three questions:
WHAT – job roles
WHERE – geographic areas
HOW MUCH – salary aspirations and the minimum you need
The time it takes to evaluate these factors varies for each individual.
Everyone has different pressures in their job, but if possible, aim to give
yourself 3 - 12 months.

4. THE OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION4
Roles
• Do you understand how your skills and experience match targeted
roles, and can you describe them succinctly in your CV?
• Have you considered how they could evolve into a new career over
the next 3-5 years?
• Will the role be sufficiently stimulating and satisfying for you? If you
aim for a job that you're overqualified or experienced for it could
prove boring eventually.
• What are your salary expectations – do you know if the role will
match these?
• Can you find this role in your preferred location for work?
• Have you identified gaps in your learning? What qualifications
might be
• Advantageous? – Can you bridge them sufficiently with the use of
ELCs on appropriate courses?
• Are you networking with those already in target roles to find out
more about the real characteristics of the job?
• What are your priorities? Do you want a job that evolves into a
career or do you want to a job to cover the next five years before
retirement, or moving abroad?
• Do you want to focus on a completely new industry or type of role?
How will this affect your salary?
• Do you want to start your own business or consultancy? How much
funding is needed for the startup and how long will it take to
generate required profits for your own income needs?
• Are you intending to build a portfolio career and looking for Non-
Executive Director positions?
• Are you considering overseas roles? Have you assessed whether the
overseas job content will permit you to work on a similar role back
in the UK?
• FTRS roles – how does this strengthen your profile when you look
for non military jobs?

5. JOB SEEKER PRE CONSULTATION GUIDE 5
Sectors – consider your personal values and what's important to you, as
these will help guide you in your job choices and the companies you decide
to work for.
• Do you prefer the private, public or third sector?
• Do you want a complete change? Are you prepared to go back
to college and undertake more study? (e.g. become a teacher,
solicitor)?
• Your values – how would you feel if you told your friends you
worked for any of the following brands or organisations? John
Lewis, Barclays, Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, Wills Tobacco, William Hill
Bookmakers, Serco, Ann Summers, BAE Systems, Police, or the Fire
Services.
Market Research – which sectors are buoyant or developing with genuine
opportunities?
I love the excitement of the
new challenges and the very
different work culture that I
now experience.
Andy Gordon, former officer

6. THE OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION6
Family - How will family factors impact your choice?
• Children – their educational needs and ages
• Family members who may be elderly, less able or dependent on you
or your/spouse/partner.
• If your Spouse/partner is already in an established career – could
this affect relocation?
• Is it an opportunity to move to a new part of the UK or overseas?
• Look ahead – what events could affect your choices in the coming
years? Will you receive an inheritance or need to take over a family
business?
• What sort of a weekly commute are you willing to take?
• Will you need to take short notice accommodation into
consideration, or will you need to travel long distances for a weekly
commute? Airbnb and Spareroom websites are potential options.
The OA consultant I saw was
friendly and professional and gave
me the confidence and knowledge
to apply for jobs, as well as astute
comments on my CV.
Job Seeker

7. JOB SEEKER PRE CONSULTATION GUIDE 7
How Much – Do you have a salary minimum for your next role?
• Have you put together a home budget (including partner/spouse
income), and considered what you need to earn to maintain your
current lifestyle?
• What is the absolute minimum you must earn to ensure household
costs are covered?
• How does your pension affect earning requirements and taxation?
• How does any terminal grant affect your mortgage and earning
requirements?
• What about school fees or support for children at university?
• Have you been networking to find out your true value and likely
income in preferred roles? You may need to compromise in home
budgeting during the initial transition stages , but bear in mind that
income has potential to grow.
CVs – work in progress
• Begin to prepare an outline CV that can be refined throughout
your transition – even if you've not completed all your research or
selection.
• Develop a compendium of knowledge – think back on all your:
- Achievements
- Qualifications
- Project management
- Dimensions
- Core skills and knowledge in your professional field of work
- Non core areas of activity such as PR, Marketing, Finance, or
working with Trade Unions, Commercial Contracts, Facilities
Management, Service Level Agreements.

8. THE OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION8
Stage 2 - Refinement
After you've begun your research, take this time to
crystallise your thoughts and draw upon the knowledge
gained from the research. Select the relevant roles and
begin to plan your job campaign.
• Role Selection - choose roles that are realistic in terms of job
satisfaction, salary and match your skills and experience;
• CVs - prepare a template CV for each role chosen. It is common
for officers to be able to generate differing CVs to cover such topics
as project management, security, defence, education, etc.
• LinkedIn Profile – you'll need a professional photograph and a
profile that promotes your individual brand. No photos of you in
your military uniform or with your children.
- Attend an OA workshop or networking event where LinkedIn is
covered in greater detail
- Understand how to use the OA's jobs board to best effect.

9. JOB SEEKER PRE CONSULTATION GUIDE 9
• Salary - understand your monetary value for selected roles in the
labour market – and in turn, manage expectations of other family
members
• Networking names – research key people who can help you
understand the sectors and companies you're targeting.
• Job search - select the key websites to look at each week that hold
relevant job adverts;
• Time Management – Networking versus Adverts - research
whether the primary route to the job is via networking or adverts or
a combination – this will heavily influence how time is used on each
activity (remember – at least seven out of ten officers find work via
networking). For example:
- Project Management Networking
- Defence Networking
- Livery Companies Adverts, but with networking
- Financial Services Networking
- NHS Adverts, but with networking
- Bursar Adverts, but with networking
- Civil Engineering Networking
- Consultancy Networking
- Security Networking
Don’t underestimate your ability to
cope under pressure. I hear time
and time again that employers are
impressed by ex-military because of
their can-do attitude.
Liz Coombs - Head of Talent Brand, Deloitte

10. THE OFFICERS’ ASSOCIATION10
• Military related Agencies - how relevant are those on the list below:
- The List
- Liquid List
- White Ensign Association - Royal Navy and Royal Marines officers
- D Club (for RM)
- Cavalry and Guards Club networking events
- LinkedIn military focused groups
- X-Forces
• Recruiters – gather information on recruitment firms that are
valuable to monitor or send your template CV to. Targeted use of
time rather than random.
• Qualifications and ELCs – select training courses that add value
to your profile for your future career.
• Notice period – officers are frequently unsure of how quickly they
can leave the Services, so aim to gain some clarity from your boss.
• Business Cards – have these to hand for networking opportunities
or carry them with you always – you never know who you might
meet!
Create a timeline for activities in the months ahead:
• Termination date – is this fixed or negotiable?
• Consider when to start researching and reaching out to people who
can help – from peers, former colleagues, to the OA.
- Consider the appropriate time to approach relevant recruiters
- too early could risk causing annoyance, if you're on a long
notice period.
- Could children's schooling affect leaving dates?
- What could be the impact of quieter periods of activity over the
holidays? This can greatly reduce effective networking time and
there are likely to be fewer adverts.

11. JOB SEEKER PRE CONSULTATION GUIDE 11
Stage 3 - Job Campaign
By now, you should be in a position to really think about
what you want and where to go next:
• Target Roles – perhaps no more than four different types of work/
roles at any one time – too many could dilute your use of time to
grow effective networks.
• Networking – reach out to people who can offer good advice,
knowledge and expertise, and add significant value to growing a
stronger network in the right sector.
• Adverts – which websites will you check each week?
• Events and Military related Agencies – those that add value (OA
network events, CTP Job Fairs, Liquid List etc.)
• Review progress at key points along the timeline
• Plan B – have a backup plan in case activity in preferred roles
doesn't come to fruition
• Records – track networking activity, job adverts, applications, and
events on a spreadsheet, or in a good old-fashioned notebook.
Registering with the OA was easy
and the staff were very helpful.
It was very useful to speak to an
advisor who is experienced in
dealing with service leavers.
Job Seeker

12. Bristol . Leeds . London . Portsmouth
Register online at:
www.officersassociation.org.uk/register
Email us at:
employment@officersassociation.org.uk
Phone us on:
0117 906 3580
The Officers' Association (OA) is an independent
charity working closely with the Career Transition
Partnership (CTP) to help officers find jobs outside
of the military.
Whether you are still serving, in transition or a
former officer wishing to change career, the OA
is able to offer officer focused, impartial and
practical advice on all aspects of employment.
Independent, expert careers
advice and services for officers
How we help officers
Employment one-to-one consultations
Executive jobs board
Workshops and webinars
Networking events and extensive network
contact list
Professional development EMP-10-16